Display device



4 N @l 3 E .BEY

A ORNEY N. J. LEIGH y DISPLAY DEVICE Filed April 9, 1929 Dec. 8, 1931.

Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES NATHAN JOSEPH LEIGI-I, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DISPLAY DEVICE Application filed April 9, 1929.

My present invention relates generally to display devices, and has particular reference to the type of device Which is primarily designed for use in store Windows and the like.

lt is a general object of my invention to provide a device which embodies, in combination, a means for receiving and accommodating actual articles of merchandise, and a means for displaying certain printed or illustrated subject matter relating thereto.

A more particular object is to provide such a device of a character which is exceptionally ycompact and simple in structural nature, whereby the articles of merchandise are eiliciently and .attractively positioned in close proximity to the displayed matter relating` thereto, whereby the manufacture of the device is exceptionally inexpensive, and whereby the use thereof by the store owner is greatly facilitated and simplified.

' One of the more specific objects of my invention is to provide a device which embodies certain elements or parts which are to be initially purchased and retained by the user, and which parts are capable of assembly with a variety of display cards or similarly prepared elements furnished to him from time to time by the manufacturer of the article to be displayed.

A further object is to provide a device which presents a uniquely attractive appearance to the eye of the observer whereby the efiicient presentation of articles of merchandise is enhanced.

Brieiiy, my invention comprises the combination with a base and certain generically similar shelf elements, constructed in a particular manner, of two or more separably applicable column members adapted to carry the printed or illustrated subject matter. Preferably, the column members are of relatively inexpensive sheet material such as cardboa-rd or the like.

@ne feature of my invention resides in constructing the column members in a peculiarlly eiiicient manner whereby they may be inexpensively 'maiuifactureth collapsed during shipment or mailing thereof, and set up in association with' the base and shelf elements in .a simple and expeditious manner.

Serial No. 353,878.

constructed will present an attractive and efficient area for the reception of articles of merchandise.

.One of the important features of my invention resides in so constructing the columns in the manner outlined above may be rendered practical and self-supporting without any recourse to extraneous supporting devices, braces, brackets, or the like.

A specific feature of my invention lies in constructing each column of a blank of sheet material which is bent longitudinally-to provide a main tubular portion and a reinforcing portion extending outwardly therefrom. In a preferred construction, each column is shaped to provide a cross-section which conforms substantially to a ligure 6, the loop of the 6 thereby providing the tubular portion referred to, and the stem of the 6 providing the reinforcement mentioned.

In general, it is an object of my invention to provide the several parts of my construction of a simple and standard nature, facilitating interchangeability and rendering possible a great fiexibility of use. With respect to the column members, it is a specific object of my invention to design them in such a manner as to render them capable of manufacture upon wellknown machines and according to wellknown methods.

For the attainment of the foregoing objects and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, I have illustrated several forms of my invention in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Y Figure 1 is a general perspective View of a display device constructed in accordance with my present invention and fully assembled for use; Y

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional plan view vreferred to that the odset association thereof taken substantially along the line 2 2 of Figure 1; n

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the assembled device of Figure 1, a portion being broken away for the sake of clearness;

Figure 4 is an edge View of one of the column members in partially collapsed condition; l l.

Figure lis aplan viewV of a' somewhat modified blank from which a modiiied type of column member is to be constructed; and l Figure y6 is an exploded view'showing the modiiied type of column in a position ready for assembly with a modified type of base.

In the form of device illustrated in Figures 1-3, l have shown the employment of a base 10, an intermediate shelf element 11, and a top shelf element 12; between the base 10 and the element 1l I have shown a column member 13, and between the elements 11 and 12,'I have shown an upper column member 1 4. vThe column members 13 and 14 are preferably identical and are constructed asillustrated morev fully in Figures 2 and 4.

The column member selected by me for description in the present case consists of a substantially rectangular blank of sheet inaterial such as cardboard having the opposite vsubstantially parallel lateral edges 15 and 16.

The blank is first scored along suitably spaced lines substantially parallel to the edges 15 and 1G whereby the same will ultimately be folded to provide the corners or edges 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21. The spacing of thesescored lines is of such acharacter that the edge 15 may be positioned in a lapped relationship illustrated most clearly in Figures 2 and 4 with respect to a midportion of the blank. .This edge, i. e., the portion of the blankl lying between the edges 15 and 20, is preferably adhesively secured to the midportion of the blank, thereby forming a substantially rectangular mainl along which the edge 15 is adhesively secured in lapped relationship, and as a' result, the reinforcing portion constituted of the free edge of the blank' extends rearwardly from the/card 22 when the' column member is opened 11p-as shown in Figure 2.

I considerit a particular feature Vof my invention to constructy the column member in the manner shown for the reason that the manufacture thereof may thereby be accomtplished upon the wellknown folding and gluing machine instead of entirely by hand.

Upon reference to Figure 3, it will be noted that the base 10 is a substantially flat element adapted to rest in a substantially horizontal manner upon a suitable flooring or the like. On its upper surface and preferably toward the forward edge thereof, I provide a boss 23. YvVhere this base is to bepemployed with a lcombination column' member and, display card of thechar'acter illustrated'in' Figure 4, the boss 23 is rectangular in cross-section and is so sized that'the lower end of the tubular portion of the column member may l'it snugly around the same.

The intermediate shelf element 11` is also a substantially fiat and horizontally arranged element and is provided with the boss 24 on its lower surface and the .boss 25`on its upper surface. The boss 24 is identical in cross-sectional configuration and size with` the boss 23 and is adapted to fit snugly into the upper` ward the rear of the shelf element 11 whereby the assembly of the several component parts renders the forwardy portion ofthe shelf element l1 available for the reception thereon of suitablearticles of merchandise.

rfhe top shelf element l2 is provided with a boss 2Gon its lower surface, this boss being identical in cross-sectional configuration and size with the boss 25, wherebylthelower and upperends of the column member 14 may be snugly fitted around the bosses 25 and 26,1'espectively. Y

VAll of the bosses 23--26 are preferably identical in vsize and shape sothat a set of standardized column m-embers may be employed therewith. For example, in the illustrated. form, the column members 13 and 14 may be interchanged, and it is lcontemplated that at periodic intervals either or both of these column members will bereplaced by' others furnished to the user of the device.

To lend yproper support to the structure,

lthe reinforcing portion previously described is provided and it will be seen that this portion extends outwardly from the tubular portion of the lower column member toward the offset axis of the upper column member, thereby underlying and lending support to the shelf element 11 beneath the upper column member. Y

ln *the` illustrated embodiment, Iy have .shown only one intermediate'shelfr element,

but it will be understood thatl my invention is not limited `to thisspecic assembly, and

that additional columns might be employed. For example, the top shelf element 12 might be replaced by a second intermediate shelf soV loo

element which would be identical with the Y and partially cut.

cal with the members 13 and 14. In Asuch an event, the top shelf element l2 would be placed at the upper end of this third column member and the total height of the entire device would thereby be increased. Such a higher device would be efficiently supported by virture of the reinforcements on the two lowest columns, and with the employment of three columns, as thus suggested, the reinforcing portion of they presentl column 14, which `is practically useless in the illustrated structure, would serve a valuable purpose the same as the reinforcing portion of the column 13 in the present case. .It might also be desirable,v with three or more columns, to increase the depth of the intermediate shelf element ll so that there would be no overhanging of the reinforcing portions referred to.

The base 10 and the several shelf elements are preferably made of wood and it is contemplated that a set thereof will be purchased by the user of the device. From time to time, column members would be furnished to him and the foregoing description is sufficient to explain the lsimplicity with which such column members can be set up by the user. If desired, he may employ small tacks passing through the column members and entering the several bosses, but I have found that a proper design of the parts requires no such tacks and that the snug frictional engagement illustrated in the accompanying drawings is sufficient to render the entire strueture stable.

In Figures 5 and 6 I have illustrated a modified form but I have omitted to show anything more than the base 27 and one column member, it being understood that a complete assembly of this modified construction would embody a suitably constructed intermediate shelf element or' elements, at least two of the column members illustrated, and a suitably constructed top shelf element.

In Figure 5 I have illustrated the blank from which the column member of Figure 6 is to be constructed. It is partially scored It is substantially reetangular having the lateral side edges 28 and 29 and is scored along the lines 30 and 3l substantially parallel to these edges. It is also scored along the lines 32 and 33, but each of these last-mentioned scorings extends only part way across the blank, the cuts 34 and 35 being provided in the manner illustrated. l y

When this blank is suitably bent asshown in Figure 6, the edge 28 is secured to a midportion thereof in the same manner as before, but the scoring is of such a character that the main tubular portion thus constituted is substantially triangular. 'The free edge 29 again extends outwardly `from the tubular portion to provide a reinforcing portion.

The cuts 34 and 35 enables meto dispense entirely with an additional card of the charaeter heretofore referred to at 22, because the front face of the `column member defined by the scorings 32 and 33 is enlarged at the sides by the ears 36 and 37, each of which forms a portion of the blank which would construction the base 27 is provided with a triangular boss 38, the reason for this being obvious, since the column member illustrated is to be snugly fitted thereover, in the same manner as hereinbefore described.

In general, it will be understood that the illustration herein contained merely explain the general nature of my invention. rIhe tubular portions need not necessarily be rectangular' or triangular, but may be circular, oval, elliptical, or similarly constructed in a variety of ways. Furthermore, other of the details herein described and illustrated may obviously be changed and altered by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended caims. It is therefore intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a collapsible display device, a substantially flat and horizontally arranged base having a boss on its upper surface, a tubular collapsible column member removably applicable to said base and having its lower end snugly and frictionally engaging said boss, and a substantially flat and horizontally arranged shelf element having a boss on its under surface snugly and frictionally engaging within the upper end of said column member; said shelf element having a second boss on its upper surface for the reception thereover of a second similar tubular column member.

2. In a display device, a substantially flat and horizontally arranged base having a boss on its upper surface, a collapsible tubular column member removably a pplicable to said base and having its lower end snugly and frietionally engaging around said boss, and a substantially flat and horizontally arranged shelf element having a boss on its under surface snugly and frictionally engaging within the upper end of said column member; said shelf element having a second boss on its upper surface for the reception thereover of a second tubular column member,'said second boss being offsetv with respectto the boss 'on the undersurface ofA said shelf element.

3. In a collapsible :display device, a base with an upwardly projecting boss, a tubular collapsible column member on said base with its lower end removably engaging frictionally around said boss, a shelf element on said column member andhaving a downwardlyprojecting boss removably engaging` snugly and frictionally within the upper endiof said column member, said shelf element having also an upwardly, projecting boss, a second collapsible tubular column member on said shelf 'element with its lower end removably engaging frictionally aroundsaid last-mentioned boss, and a second shelf element on saidsecond column member and having a substantially flat upper surface and a downwardly projecting boss removably engaging snugly and frictionally within the upper end of said second column member.

4. In a display device, a base with an upwardly projecting boss, a tubular column ,member on said base with its lower end removably engaging frictionally Y around, said boss, a shelf element on said column member and having a downwardly projecting boss engaging frictionally within the upper end of said column member, said shelf element hav- ,ing .also an upwardly projecting boss, a sec- 'ond tubular column member on said shelf element with its lower end removably engaging` frictionallyaround said last-mentioned boss, and a second shelf element on said second columnfrmember and having a downwardly proecting boss frictionally engaging within the upper end of said Vsecond column member; the upwardly and downwardly projecting bosses on'said first-named shelf elment being slightly `out of alignment, whereby said columns will be slightly offset with respect-t0 each other. l

5. In a display device,'a pair of tubular column members superposed with their axes mutuallyoii'set, and a shelf element between said members and engaging the adjacent endsk thereof, the lower column member having a reinforcing portion extending toward the axis of the upper column member so as to underlie and lend support to said shelf element beneath said upper column member.

6. Ina display device, a pair of tubular column members superposed with their axes mutually offset, and a shelf element between said members and engaging the adjacent ends thereof, the lowercolumn member having a reinforcing portion extending toward Vthe axis ofthe upper column member so as to underlie and lend support to said shelf element beneath said upper column member;

f 'said lower 'column member comprising a blank of sheet material bent longitudinally toprovide a cross-section which'y conforms substantially toia' gure 6. i f

f lIn a display device, a pair of tubular column members superposed with their axes Vmutually offset, and aV shelf element between said members and engaging the adjacent ends thereof, the lower Vcolumn memberr having an reinforcing'portionextending toward the axis ofthe upper columnfmember so as to underlie andlend support to said shelf element beneath said upper columnmember; said lower column member comprising a blank of sheet material bent longitudinally to Vprovide a cross-sectionwhich conforms substantially to a figure y6, the loop of said gure 6 being rectangular so that the column member is collapsible. ,A

f 8. In a ldisplay device, a pair of tubular column members superposed with their axes mutually offset, and a shelf element between .said members and comprising a substantially lhorizontal flat element, said shelf elementy n having offset bosses on its lower and upper surfaces respectively forengagement within the .upper and lower ends ofthe column members below and above said shelf'element respectively; v

9. In `a display device, a pair of tubular column members superposed with their. axes mutually offset, and a shelf element between ysaid members and comprising a substantially figo y horizontal flat element, said shelf element Y i having offset bosses on its lower and upper surfaces respectively for'engagement within .the upperand lower ends of the column members below and above said shelf element respectively; the lower column member ha-ving a reinforcing portion which extends tangentially therefrom toward the axisV of the upper column member so as to underlie and lend support to saidv shelf element beneath the boss on the upper ysurface of said shelf element.

10. Asa new article of manufacture, a column member for a display device ofthe character described, Vcomprising a blank of sheet material bent longitudinally to pro-y vide a cross-section conforming substantially to a figure 6, thereby providing a main .tubu-V lar portion and a reinforcing portion extending tangentially therefrom.

11. As a new article of manufacture, a colv umn member for a display devi-ce of the character described, comprising a blank of sheet v material bent longitudinally to Vprovide a cross-section conforming substantially to a figure 6 whose loop is rectangular, thereby j umn member for a. display device of the character described, comprising a blank of sheet material bent longitudinally to provide a main portion of tubular cross-section and a reinforcing portion extending outwardly from said main portion, one lateral edge of the blank being adhesively secured in lapped position to a midportion of the blank, whereby said reinforcing portion will be constituted of the free edge portion of the blank.

14. As a new article of manufacture, a column member for a display device of the character described, comprising a blank of sheet material bent longitudinally to position one lateral edge in lapped relationship to a midportion of the blank, thereby defining a main tubular portion, the opposite lateral edge being free and extending outwardly from said main portion to provide a reinforcement.

15. As a new article of manufacture, a combination column member and display card for a display device of the character Y described, comprising a.v blank of sheet material bent longitudinally to position one lateral edge in lapped relationship to a midportion of the blank, the blank being bent so that the tubular portion thus formed will be rectangular in cross-section, said edge being adhesively secured to said midportion and the opposite lateral edge being free and extending tangentially from said tubular portion to provide a reinforcement, and a relatively large display element overlying and secured to the rectangular tubular portion on the face adjacent to that on which said adhesively lapped relationship exists.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification this 30th day of March, 1929.

f NATHAN JOSEPH LEIGH. 

